What surprises YOU anymore
I have to admit, nothing surprises me much anymore.
I have seen many things, good and bad. I have experienced many situations harsh and otherwise. I have heard good news and bad news. Even things I’m not aware of, when told to me, are met with rational explanation and are generally not surprising.
We are often faced with unknown challenges and situations that requires our attention, focus, and deliberate activity to overcome them. If we live long enough, it seems as though we encounter many situations that no longer surprise us. We have simply seen it before or have experienced iterations of it in our past.
As leaders, our job is to overcome, as much as possible, the element of surprise. We evaluate the past, build in the moment, and plan strategically for a brighter future. We do this every day and we do it personally and professionally.
Q: What, in recent days, has surprised you to the point where you did not know what to do or how to respond?
As much as we can say that nothing surprises us in our personal and professional lives, I wonder if we can say the same about our spiritual lives.
Reflecting on the biblical events of holy week and putting myself in those positions of the people that lived during Christ’s time, I think I would’ve felt that everything happening in Jerusalem was completely surprising.
Take time to read through the accounts found in
Matthew 22 to 28. Look for those situations and events that may be surprising. There are so many.
Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey and people are celebrating his arrival. He had been to Jerusalem many times prior to this. His notoriety had grown to become a household name over the past several years. It wasn’t like he was unknown to them any longer. But why such a procession and reception this time? The response from the people was amazing… and probably surprising.
Then, as the week unfolded, he is betrayed by one of his students and arrested by guards. For what? Everyone knew him to be a controversial teacher but did he break the law? That would be surprising.
Seeing him tortured and abused likely wasn’t something the people would have expected. Especially since he didn’t really break any laws. Hearing his guilty verdict and being sentenced to death would most likely have been surprising.
Watching his final moments on the cross as he expressed care for those he loved would’ve been completely surprising and out of the ordinary.
Yet, most amazing of all was his defeat over sin and death by rising on the third day. Surprising? Absolutely. Even those closest to him needed signs to ensure that it was indeed him when he came to visit them after his resurrection.
In all of this, I am left, thinking that God is always full of surprises. How many times has he gotten my attention with something completely absurd and out of the ordinary? When have I seen him work in ways that are unexplainable?
It seems to me that he is a God of surprises because that might be the only way he can get and keep our attention. We can explain away far too many things, but we cannot explain him. It’s impossible.
As you reflect on the life of Jesus, the goodness of God, and the companionship of the Holy Spirit this Easter season, I challenge you to remain surprised by all that he is doing for you. Do not simply pass off his work in your life as casual happenings that can be explained by our finite knowledge and lack of wisdom.
My Prayer:
My heavenly father, I thank you today for all of the surprises I have seen in my lifetime; You have gotten my attention so many times. Forgive me for those times when I reasoned your actions away. I know you are always at work doing good things for those who believe in you. I ask that you would give me the faith of a child so that I will constantly be surprised and amazed by what you are doing in my life. Amen.
Blessings as Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
Email: president@corpath.ca
"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
